2010 Camaro Review

Rather recently I had the opportunity to drive a 2010 Camaro RS for a week. Here's some thoughts on it:

When I took the wheel, I'd been daily-driving in a mid 90's Chevy throttle body injected truck. Getting up to speed on an onramp requires matting the pedal. I instinctively did that in the Camaro.

As I dropped back down from instant warp speed, the first cogent thought my brain could muster was that this is not the Camaro RS you see in the nickel trader being offered for $1,000 cash or a four wheeler; it doesn't have seats skinned in mousefur, it doesn't have a miserable 160ish horsepower V6 and it doesn't have a stonking girder for a drive axle - This, despite looking somewhat like a first generation Camaro, is a competent world-class sports car.

This is because it's based on a chassis designed by the Australians and has things like multilink independent rear suspension, Brembo brakes, and a 305 hp 3.6L Dual Overhead Cam Direct Injected V6 that also serves duty in the Cadillac CTS.

Weighing in at a solid 3800 lbs, it's not a lightweight, but driving it, it really doesn't feel as heavy as it is. Turn in is sharp, and the handling is neutral although with the traction control off it's very easy to get the rear end to step out if adequately coerced with the throttle.

Driven like a sane human being in mixed city and freeway driving, it averaged 27 mpg. Pause and consider, for a moment, that the last generation LT1 V8 Camaro produced 20 less horsepower and with an automatic might average 20 mpg. We've come a long way.

While I did enjoy this car thorougly, I did have a few sore points with it.

I didn't really find the small windows to be a problem, but the rear visibility is somewhat unworkable. While driving, this is not a huge deal; drop the loud pedal and if there was something lurking behind the massive B-pillar it certainly would no longer be there after several seconds. It is, however, a problem when reversing out of parking spaces on city streets. You can't see anything, and the mirrors are tiny.

Secondarily, while the high beltline certainly adds a rakish look to the car's profile, it completely inhibits the main thing you should be able to do when driving a Camaro which is driving around with your arm out the window looking tough. It's hard to look tough when your elbow's pointed skyward and your shoulder is nearly popped out of socket.

My final beef, and for me the most important one, is with the engine. As I mentioned, it moves the car with effortless aplomb, and in terms of powerband and feel it is more than adequate to the task. The thing that ruins it all, in my opinion, is that for all the rakish hot-rod looks, the wonderful handling and the excellent interior, is that when you stand on the gas it sounds like a late model Nissan Z car. This is because it's a V6, and because of things like firing order and crankshaft design there is nothing... NOTHING that can be done to make it sound like it belongs in a car that looks as uniquely American as the new Camaro. For some people this will not be a problem, but every time I hit the throttle it felt like I was looking at Jessica Simpson redubbed with an Japanese schoolgirl voice. Off putting.

Had GM, for example, put the 5.3L displacement on demand LS4 V8 from the Impala SS in it, they would have had roughly the same fuel economy and by Goshen it woulda sounded right.

Anime voice notwithstanding, however, the new Camaro is truly a world class piece of machinery. If you're in the market for a sporty daily driver, at the current price it's difficult to beat it.